Roller Coasters, Or, I Had So Much Fun, I Almost Puked (Carolrhoda Photo Books) [Hardcover]

Nick Cook (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 8 and up | Series: Carolrhoda Photo Books

Discusses the history, physics, parts, and design of roller coasters and examines some modern examples.

Editorial Reviews

From Kirkus Reviews

Mindbender. Wild Thing. Ninja. Thunderbolt. The names of roller coasters are as evocative as Cook's debut work, a look at the psychology and steel behind America's most thrilling rides. A lively history of the roller coaster includes the ice slides of France in the 1800s, the first gravity railway on Coney Island that reached a whopping speed of six miles per hour, and the rise and fall in popularity of ``woodies,'' or wooden roller coasters. In a chapter on the physics of roller coasters, Cook cites comprehensible examples (such as the angle of a pencil to a desktop) to clearly explain such concepts as the science of motion and gravity, friction and drag, slope, and g force. Attractive inserts bring in the designers and engineers of the coaster, who allow riders to ``feel like they're going to die''; in these days of computerized engineering, Etch-A-Sketch-like scribbles on a computer screen are transformed into impressive assemblages of thousands of pieces of steel tracks and hills that span acres. One especially eye-catching chart outlines what happens inside the body during a coaster ride. In a final chapter, Cook gives ``airtime'' to coasters past and present. The colorful, captioned photographsthe swoosh of riders in motion, heads hanging upside down from an inside loop, or aerial views of a tiny car on wheels about to take the first dropas well as the rest of the bookare more than worth the ride. (glossary, bibliography, index) (Nonfiction. 6-11) -- Copyright ©1998, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Hardcover: 56 pages
• Publisher: Carolrhoda Books; 2nd edition (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1575050714
• ISBN-13: 978-1575050713
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 8.4 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,185,923 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Amusement Park Mania, July 3, 2000

By 

Nathan A. Unterman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roller Coasters, Or, I Had So Much Fun, I Almost Puked (Carolrhoda Photo Books) (Hardcover)

I have read this book, much to my delight. The historical section reviewing roller coasters is excellent for this 4th to 7th grade reading level book. But do not let you think that it is only for school children. Adults will enjoy this quick read, too.

The pictures are excellent and are well supported by the text. The web links are dated, but not crucial to the understanding of the book.

The only reason why I do not rate this book higher is that in the physics of roller coasters section, there are serious errors in the science (pages 32-34). In particular, inertia, momentum, and energy are used incorrectly. Later in the book when discussing seat position for maximum g's, there is also an error.

Aside from the scientific errors, though, I would recommend this book and am happy that I have my own copy.

4.0 out of 5 stars Don't let the title turn you off, October 26, 2011

By 

M. Heiss (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Roller Coasters, Or, I Had So Much Fun, I Almost Puked (Carolrhoda Photo Books) (Hardcover)

Good book on the design and construction of roller coasters, the physical factors at work on the riders, and the ongoing evolution of thrilling rides. Well-illustrated with plenty of photographs. There is enough material here to do a report, but it's also fun for kids who just want to read about big rides.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So Incredibly Awesome!, November 25, 2001

By 

"magnumxl200" (In the roller coaster country) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roller Coasters, Or, I Had So Much Fun, I Almost Puked (Carolrhoda Photo Books) (Hardcover)

This book is so incredibly awesome! It should be rated like 1,000,000 stars! I love all the pictures, especially the ones of the Wild Thing!